bitten ; dramione

twelve - the conclusion

Draco and Hermione got married 6 months later. It was a beautiful fall wedding, high in the mountains of France. It was a small and intimate affair, and it was perfectly theirs. Rita Skeeter was fuming when she found out about it, as she hadn't been able to get any pictures, so Hermione sold some of the pictures to Rita in order to keep her quiet.

Draco stopped transforming a year and a half after their wedding, and it was a beautiful moment. They had moved into a house in the countryside, near the Weasleys hilltop home. Draco had complained at first as he said they would take it as an open invitation (which they did), but Hermione convinced him anyway. "Happy wife, happy life, Draco." She hummed. So Hermione got her countryside home.

Hermione continued to work at St. Mungos hospital once it was rebuilt and Draco moved from the Auror department into the Magical Beasts department. A tribute department to Newt Scammander, and one of the most popular departments to this day. While studying and learning in this new department, Draco started a book on lycanthropy. Deciding it was about time the wizarding world got some clarification into the mind of a 'beast.'

Hermione and Draco had their first son, Jack, in the summer following the publication of Draco's book. The family of three was pictured on the front page of the Daily Prophet as they exited the hospital. Jack tested negative for lycanthropy and Draco cried of happiness. It wasn't something that should be looked at as a curse, but he didn't want his son to be the subject of prejudice or hate. Draco had enough of that to last him another lifetime.

Hermione and Draco were named as the godparents to Harry and Ginny's third child, Lily. James, Albus, and Lily came over quite often to play with Jack, and the parents usually accompanied. The night would consist of dinner inside, and then dessert and drinks on the back porch as the children ran around the fields. Watching the sunset. Laughter and joy was shared. There was no fear.

Of course, danger didn't end with the fall of Katie Bell and her reign of terror. There were still some severe cases going on. Harry raided a warehouse that was filled with dark magic, and copycats of Death Eaters. Danger would always be around, but they didn't fear much.

Hermione had her second and final child, Lyra (to carry on the Malfoy tradition of constellation names), 3 years after Jack was born. It was a full household, and it ran like any other. Arguments on how the children should dress between the couple, the siblings fighting and stealing each other's things, late night tuck-ins, early morning cries. But it was a beautiful life that they shared, and they wouldn't trade it for the world.

And before either of them knew it, Jack was off to Hogwarts. Draco and Hermione walked through the platform of 9 ¾ with their two children, one carrying a trunk, and one carrying her fathers hand. "Do you have everything? Books, clothes, your pet-" Hermione fussed, fixing her son's hair from behind. "I've got it, mum!" Jack protested, looking at all of the other families with their eyes on his own. It was embarrassing!

The Malfoys caught up with the Potters, Lily smiling wide and hugging Jack. Draco watched a small blush spread across his son's face, and he smirked to himself. His father was rolling in his grave right now and Draco loved it. "Are you ready?" Lily asked, Jack nodding slowly and swallowing heavily. "I guess I have to be." He chuckled. The children said their goodbyes and loaded the train, Draco pulling Hermione close.

The parents watched as Lily and Jake entered a cabin with a blonde haired girl and a brunette boy. The Longbottom twins. They all waved as the train gave its final whistle, and the parents waved back as the train disappeared. Ginny broke into tears, and so did Hermione. Ginny cried because that was her last, and Hermione because it was her first. The women laughed at each other while the men rolled their eyes.

"I'm not complaining, it'll finally be quiet in my house." Harry said, walking with Draci back to the parking lot. Little Lyra was still holding her fathers hand. "It'll never be quiet in your house, Potter. You married a Weasley." Draco remarked. Harry chuckled and looked over his shoulder at his wife, arm-in-arm with Hermione, and turned his back forward. "And you married Hermione." Harry teased. Draco laughed loudly, shaking his head. "Believe me, I know." Draco smiled, Lyra walking back to her mother.

Draco looked over his shoulder now, smiling as Hermione took her daughter's hand. She giggled at something Lyra said, meeting her husband's eyes. They shared a small smile and Draco turned forward again. "And I wouldn't do anything different to change it."

All was well.